Forward in Christ F the Magazine of Forwardc in Faith North America

Vol. 8 No. 2 February, 2016

Forward in Christ F The magazine of ForwardC in Faith North America.

Lent Also in this issue: The Primates Meeting C4SO, Missional And Misguided What is Anglo-Catholicism? $30 Annual Subscription Will The Real Gabriel Please $200 Bundle Subscription Stand Up?

2 Forward in Christ, www.fifna.org Vol. 8 No. 2 Contents February, 2016 ForwardPublished in by Faith 4 In The News 13 Thinking Out Loud Fr. Michael Heidt is Editor of William Murchison is an author and North America Forward in Christ and a priest in journalist, living in Dallas, Texas. the Diocese of Fort Worth. 14 Fighting Temptation Upholding the Faith and Order 5 The Primates Meeting, Fr. Gene Geromel is Rector of of the Undivided Church Responses St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Statements by Archbishop Foley Swartz Creek, Michigan Beach, FiFNA and Bishop Jack Iker. 15 C4SO, Missional. And Business Office 7 The Primates Meeting, Misguided P.O. Box 210248 Bedford, TX 76095-7248 Aftermath The Very Rev. Dr. Donald P. Richmond, a widely published Email: The Rev. Canon Dr. Gavin author and monastic illustrator, is [email protected] Ashenden lives in Jersey, in the an Anglican clergyman serving United Kingdom. with the Church of the Nazarene. www.forwardinchrist.orgWeb 8 Who Dares Call it by Name? 18 Will The Real Gabriel www.fifna.org A.S. Haley is a lawyer, living in Facebook: www.facebook.com/FIFNA California. Please Stand Up? Twitter: @FiF_NA Fr. John Jordan is Rector of 10 Make a Right Beginning St. Laurence, Grapevine, in the 1-800-225-3661 toll free of Lent Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas. The Rt. Rev. Jack Iker is Bishop of 19 News From Down Under Fort Worth, Texas. Editor Br. Ned Kerber is Prior of the The Rev’d Michael Heidt Anglican Benedictines of Christ the 11 Lent And The Gospel of 204 N. Rosemont Ave. King and VP FiF Australasia. Dallas, TX 75208 Suffering Email: Fr. Lawrence Bausch is President 20 What is [email protected] of FiFNA and Rector of Holy Anglo-Catholicism? Trinity, Ocean Beach, San Diego, Fr. Will Brown is Rector of Holy Forward In Christ California Subscriptions Cross, Dallas, in the Diocese of is sent free of charge 12 Parish. Highlight Dallas. Fr. John Alexander is to all contributing members of Christ the Redeemer, Washington Rector of St. Stephen’s, Providence, Forward In Faith North America. State. in the Diocese of Rhode Island. Non-member subscriptions: $30 per annum. Parish bundles of ten magazines per issue $200 per annum.

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Forward in Christ, February, 2016 3 In the News

Primates Meeting: ISIS Genocide:

Meeting at Canterbury in June, the The European Parliament has condemned Primates of the Anglican Communion voted by a two thirds the Islamic State for committing genocide against Christians majority to sanction the Episcopal Church (TEC) for its and other religious minorities. In early February, the continued advocacy of gay marriage. In a Communique, the Parliament adopted Resolution 0051, “Systematic mass Primates stated that the Episcopal Church may “no longer murder of religious minorities by ISIS,” labeling its crimes represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not as genocide. be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee The resolution stated that “religious and ethnic and that while participating in the internal bodies of the minorities, such as Christian Chaldean, Syriac, Assyrian, Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision Melkite and Armenian, Yazidi, Turkmens, Shabak, Kaka’i, making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity.” Sabae-Mandean, Kurdish and Shi’a communities, as well The sanctions will remain in place for three years, as many Arabs and Sunni Muslims, have been targeted and follow on from the Episcopal Church’s decision at its by the so-called ISIS/Daesh” and many have been “killed, 2015 General Convention to authorize gay marriage rites slaughtered, beaten, subjected to extortion, abducted and and adopt gender neutral language in the denomination’s tortured”, their women “enslaved” and “subjected to other marriage canons. However, while barred from representing forms of sexual violence,” forcibly converted,” and have been the Anglican Communion and taking part in its decision “victims of forced marriage and trafficking in human beings” making process, the Episcopal Church still remains part of andIraq’s their churches Oldest Monastery and mosques Destroyed: have been “vandalised.” theTEC broader Still Communion.on the Island: Satellite photos TEC’s Presiding Bishop, Michael have revealed that St. Elijah’s monastery, which was built in Curry, held a press conference in February and stated that 590 AD, has been razed to the ground by the Muslim terror the Episcopal Church had not been “voted off the island” by group ISIS. the Primates of the Anglican Communion, and that “nothing St. Elijah’s monastery stood as a place of Christian would change.” worship for over 1,400 years until it was reduced to dust “We’re not changing,” declared Curry to reporters at and rubble by the fanatical Islamists. “Our Christian history Washington DC’s Press Club, “so there shouldn’t be an in Mosul is being barbarically leveled,” stated Fr. Paul Habib, expectation that in the next three years the Episcopal in Irbil, Iraq, “We see it as an attempt to expel us from Iraq, Church is going to change.” Curry was referring to the eliminatingChurch ofand England finishing Decline: our existence in this land.” denomination’s approval of gay marriage rituals, prompting retired bishop Gene Robinson, who divorced his husband Attendance at Church of Mark in 2014, to congratulate Curry. “Thanks for not England services has plunged to its lowest level ever, with throwing us under the bus – the LGBT community as well church statistics showing that only 1.4 per cent of the as the Episcopal Church, we’re proud of you,” enthused the population of England now attend Anglican services on any onetime Bishop of New Hampshire and the world’s first ever given Sunday. openly gay prelate. Overall average attendance at Sunday services across Whether the unchangingly gay Episcopal Church and the England fell over a five year period by 22,000 to 764,700 in wider Anglican Communion will remain in their troubled 2014, a fall of seven per cent. This represents a two thirds marriage at the end of three years remains to be seen. declineTrans in Jesus:Sunday attendance since the early 1960s. PopeSee pp. and 5-9. Patriarch Meet: A Church of England parish in the Diocese Pope Francis and Patriarch of Manchester, St. Chrysostom, is hosting a trans Jesus play, Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, met “The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven.” this February in Cuba. The meeting focused on building The play is part of Manchester’s Queer Contact festival ecumenical relations and protecting persecuted Christians, and portrays Jesus as a man who had a sex-change to become especially in the Middle East. a woman and returns to earth. Transsexual playwright and According to the Metropolitan Hilarion Alfayev, who is actor, Jo Clifford, describes the performance as, “A play head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Foreign Relations which imagines Jesus as a trans-woman, and she’s come Department: back to Earth and she’s living in the present day and she tells “In the current tragic situation, we need to put aside many of the familiar stories that we know from the Bible but internal disagreements and join efforts to save Christianity they have a very particular interesting slant on them. And in Forward the regions in Christ where it is subjected to most severe she preaches a wee sermon and at the end she invites the persecution.” people around her for a Communion service. urges your prayers for the unity of the “I hope [Jesus] would like it, he and she - because I’m sure Western and Eastern churches and an end to the persecution he was a he and a she.” of Christians. 4 Forward in Christ, www.fifna.org The Primates Meeting, Responses Statements from Archbishop Foley Beach, Forward in Faith and Bishop Iker Archbishop Foley Beach

: To the members of the Anglican Church in North America, I am writing to you from Canterbury, England late on the night of January 14th, 2016. Thank you for your prayers and support this week. Although I’m tired at the end of a long day, I wanted to send you an update. I participated fully in the meeting, where the first and primary agenda item was addressing the Episcopal Church’s changes to the doctrine of marriage. We spent most of the week discussing this issue and seeking to come to a common conclusion. We unanimously agreed that these changes “represent a fundamental de- parture from the faith and teaching held by the majority of our Provinces on the doctrine of marriage,” and we wrestled with what the consequences fined as a covenant between one man been efforts to sanction or discipline should be. and one woman. TEC for its continuing drift away from The GAFCON and Global South Pri- Our members within The Episcopal orthodox belief and practice. The Wind- mates were tremendous in their leader- Church, often marginalized or treated sor Report in 2004 and the Primates ship in the meeting, and made a strong as a tolerated minority, are encouraged Meeting at Dar es Salaam in 2007 both impact in the final decision. I confess to hear that our position is upheld by called for specific actions to discipline that I have mixed feelings about the the vast majority of our international TEC and called for repentance, but to sanctions. leaders. no avail. There is little reason to be- The sanctions are strong, but they Our members within the Anglican lieve that anything will change as a re- are not strong enough, and to my deep Church in North America welcome sult of this most recent decision from disappointment, they didn’t include both the statement itself, as well as the the Primates. Already, the leaders of the Anglican Church of Canada as they full inclusion at every level at the meet- TEC have said as much. They are going should. ing of Archbishop Foley Beach. to continue to be defiant and autono- With that said, it took many steps All of our members are heartened mous, come what may. for the Anglican Communion to come by the small step taken in Godly dis- Yes, for three years TEC representa- to this current crisis. This is a good cipline towards those who have acted tives can no longer serve on ecumeni- step back in the right direction, but it unilaterally in presuming to redefine cal bodies or be elected or appointed to will take many more if the Communion Biblical marriage. decision-making bodies of the Anglican is to be restored. Bishop Jack Iker: “Primates Sus- Communion. Yes, an overwhelming ma- Thank you again for your incredible pend Episcopal Church from Full Partici- jority imposed these consequences on prayer support, and let us stay on our pation in the Anglican Communion” TEC for its unfaithfulness to the Scrip- mission – to reach North America with tures. (The tally was 26 For, 3 Against, the transforming love of Jesus Christ! and 6 Abstentions.) And yes, TEC has YourArchbishop brother Foley in Christ, Beach been suspended from full participation Archbishop of ACNA When I read this headline on the re- in the Anglican Communion. They are sults of last week’s meeting of the An- reduced to observer status, with seat FiFNA: glican Primates in Canterbury, my first and voice, but no vote in meetings of thought was, “Well, what took them so various Anglican bodies. All of this is With all Christians who sub- long?” welcome news, and we commend the mit to Biblical authority within the his- For decades The Episcopal Church Primates for the position they have toric Church, Forward in Faith North has been undermining the historic taken. America rejoices in the recent state- faith and order of biblical Anglicanism However, the real good news behind ment by the Primates of the Anglican – most recently by endorsing same-sex all this is the growing strength and in- Communion in support of marriage de- marriages. And for years there have fluence of the GAFCON movement, rep - Forward in Christ, February, 2016 5 resenting the vast majority of Anglicans around the world. people… We long to see a united, confident and courageous They have been increasingly supported by the Global South witness to God who by the death and resurrection of his Son Primates, and the future of the Anglican Communion lies Jesus Christ has given us an unshakeable hope and assures with the leadership of this new alliance. They recognize the us of his unfailing love.” Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and have seated Fort Worth stands with him in the pursuit of this goal in our Archbishop, Foley Beach, as a Primate in both bodies. theThe days Rt. ahead. Rev. Jack Leo Iker It is very telling that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Bishop of Fort Worth Welby, followed their lead last week, consenting to this rec- ognition and welcoming Archbishop Beach to the Canter- bury meeting, with full seat, voice, and vote. Our place in worldwide Anglicanism is confident and secure. At the conclusion of the meeting, Archbishop Eliud Wa- bukala, GAFCON Chairman, said: “The need for the GAFCON movement is being recognised by an increasing number of A Prayer For The Church

O God, you who have established the foundations of your Church upon the holy mountains: Grant that she may not be moved by any wiles of error which would fain compass her overthrow, nor may she be shaken by any earthly disquietude, but ever stand firmly upon the ordinances of the Apostles, and by their help, be kept in safety. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

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6 Forward in Christ, www.fifna.org The Primates Meeting, Aftermath By Fr. Gavin Ashenden

Without going into the history of the recent meetings of this group, not all the archbishops there had personal experience of what had happened dur- ing the course of this long struggle- be- tween those who were trying to change the essentials of the Christian Faith by re-defining what marriage was, and those who, as bishops ought to, guard- ed the integrity of the faith. It was expected that those archbish- ops who had shown they were commit- ted to orthodox Christian belief and joined GAFCON, would be in a minority, and a minority that could not win this battle within the worldwide Anglican Communion. The expectation was therefore, that since the GAFCON provinces had been mandated by their people not to sit at the same table as TEC – the American progressive or revisionist Anglican and the dynamics of what was taking coming round to the orthodox position Church - that they would leave the place manipulative. He therefore left in began to increase. Provinces that had meeting. protest on day 2. left GAFCON asked to rejoin. Provinces Justin Welby had resorted to calling It was expected that other ortho- that had sat on the fence, had moved to it a ‘gathering’ since they were commit- dox archbishops (who belonged to the the orthodox position. As discussions ted not to attend a meeting where TEC GAFCON grouping) would follow him; and votes continued to take place, a was invited. but at that point a strange development new realignment began to take place One of the reasons for this was their took place. against the American (and Canadian) outrage at the continuing persecution The Archbishop of the Anglican provinces. It must be said that this hap- of clergy in American who held views Church in North American, ++ Foley pened despite the enormous sums of formed by the Scripture and unbroken Beach, which was formed of refugees money that the Americans had prom- tradition by the Episcopal bishops, the fleeing persecution from TEC, had ised the near destitute Africans, if they details of which are another story. been invited to the ‘gathering.’ promised to adopt the American pro- At the meeting in Canterbury, many Although Justin Welby had backed gay culture. of the Primates themselves had not got the TEC position when he came into From the outside, those who sup- a full picture of what had happened office by declaring that ACNA were ported the orthodox Christian position either at previous meetings, or of the not part of the Anglican Communion, hoped that the other Primates would dynamic of manipulation and and what the reality was that most of the rest follow the Primate of Uganda and leave. has amounted to persecution by the of the Communion maintained that he From the inside, it began to seem pos- pro-gay marriage lobby, who although certainly was. Justin Welby had been sible a new configuration of worldwide they claim to be ‘inclusive’, are deter- forced to change his political position Anglicans could be achieved, catalysed mined to exclude orthodox Christians even if he hasn’t changed his rhetoric. by Archbishop Foley Beach and Eliud wherever they can. Because Welby has a reputation for Wabakola of Kenya, which would hold At the beginning of the meeting a reconciliation, he found he had to in- the Scriptural and orthodox line over motion was put to require the Episco- vite Foley Beach to the ‘gathering’ or the sanctity of marriage. pal Church of America (and the similar the event would have failed before it And that is what happened. After Anglican Church of Canada) to volun- even began. four days a strong majority of Arch- tarily withdraw from the meeting. Talking among themselves, a clearer bishops declared that marriage was It was lost. picture emerged for the archbishops indeed between a man and a woman The Archbishop of Uganda was about the way in which homosexuality with the intention of possibility of pro- committed by his Church not to attend had been promoted by the liberal prov- creation. It then voted to enforce sanc- ‘meetings’ with TEC. He observed that inces and the issues at stake for the tions against TEC for having changed a not only was this in fact a meeting in faith. Perhaps to everyones’ surprise core element of the Christian Faith. reality, but he found the atmosphere the numbers of archbishops who were The sanctions meant that they were Forward in Christ, February, 2016 7 to be deprived of a voice and a vote for tinue with the intensity that grows. those who prefer and identify with three years, at which point the situ- the zeitgeist, are becoming anti-Faith; ation would be revisited by the Pri- There is what amounts to an impla- both those who proclaim to profess the mates. cable dislike from the liberal camp that faith and those who share their priori- The clear implication is that they in places become hatred. The outpour- ties and don’t. This faction is certainly would need to repent and take up again ing of bile and bitterness since the de- in charge of the Church and its senior orthodox Christian Faith by the end of cision from the progressive voices has appointments. The fact that half of the threeThe years. Implications beenThe marked Church and of disturbing. England? Cathedral Deans in England wrote to support a letter rebuking the CofE for not backing homosexual Christians Of course, that won’t happen. TEC Whatever took place at the Canter- and redefining marriage, gives an indi- and the Anglican Church of Canada, as bury meeting it remains, in my judge- cation of how long and how thorough well as Anglicans in New Zealand and ment, that the situation in the Church the campaign to conform the Church to perhaps even England, are too com- of England for orthodox Christians is the zeitgeist has been. mitted to the zeitgeist to consider that lost. I see the way ahead then in England they have undermined and radically al- Many of my best friends whose as requiring a new Anglican jurisdic- tered the faith. judgement I admire, think otherwise. tion. An Anglican Church whose bish- So the decision to divide into two So I come to that opinion with caution. ops believe the Bible, are nurtured by kinds of Anglican across the world has But the C of E is a creation of the the Tradition, and have the spiritual been delayed for three years. state. It is chaplain to the state. What authenticity to know how to interpret During those three years trajec- happens to a state Church when the this profound and serious spiritual tories will have become clearer and state turns against Christianity? struggle. events we cannot yet foresee may well There are some notable casualties All each of us can do is say our act as catalysts for further change and in history that litter Church state ten- prayers, search our hearts and offer reconfigurations. sions, not least St Thomas a Becket, St our obedience to Christ as we hear Him What is clear already, is that those Thomas More, and Archbishop Cran- moving and calling us to be His faithful Anglicans who hold on to the orthodox mer. body; whatever the cost. Scriptural faith grow, evangelise and That rejection of Christian faith flourish, and that those who do not are and morals, is what is taking place at in a free-fall in terms of numbers. the moment. Some people will, in des- From an orthodox point of view, one peration travel as far as they can with could have hoped for stronger sanc- the culture of the anti-Christian state. tions, stronger language. But what has But if they go too far, they become anti- been achieved in defence of the faith is Christian themselves. This is a situa- nonetheless remarkable. tion which has developed numerous The Rev. Canon Dr. Gavin Ashenden lives The local provincial struggle for the times in the history of Church/culture/ in Jersey, in the United Kingdom. integrity of the faith and against the state relations. the supporters of the zeitgeist will con- My view is that over these issues, Who Dares Call it by Name? By A.S. Haley

There appears to be some reluctance on both sides of the The orthodox and traditionalists who support the vote aisle to express the full rationale behind the Primates’ vote of suspension, on the other hand, do so on the ground that to impose consequences upon the Episcopal Church (ECU- “changing the Anglican doctrine of marriage as between a SA) for its adoption at General Convention 2015 (GC 2015) man and a woman” was the straw that broke the camel’s of canons allowing the performance of same-sex marriage back, and say that the move simply could not be ignored. Un- ceremonies in the church, in parallel with the traditional fortunately, this rationale appears to give a wink and a nod ceremonies between a man and a woman. to provinces that adopt merely rituals of blessing for Same The activists within ECUSA see the consequences as un- Sex Unions (like Canada), and thus far, at any rate, stop short just “punishment” for their having taken a visionary stance of celebrating same-sex marriages within their churches. -- out in front of the entire Communion -- to support full This debate engages nothing, and can go nowhere. It is sacramental equality in the Church for LGBT Episcopalians. like two ships passing in the night. There will be full engage- They express hurt for what they call “sanctions”, but at the ment within the Communion only when the whole ground same time express their determination to wait out the three- underlying the vote has been articulated plainly for all to year period without changing a thing,and certainly without see and discuss. trying to undo the marital canonical changes at GC 2018. At the root of what ECUSA has seen fit to do with its mar- 8 Forward in Christ, www.fifna.org riage liturgies is, to speak simply and directly, the sin of blas- phemy, against both Jesus Christ our Savior and against the Holy Trinity. ECUSA has, to put it bluntly, shown contempt for the divine givenness of marriage as something that oc- curs between a man and a woman, reflecting the union of Christ with His church. TheDearly blasphemy beloved: beginsWe have in comethe new together same-sex in the marriage presence rite of atGod the to point witness where and the bless celebrant the joining says together to the congregation: of N. and N. in Holy Matrimony. The joining of two people in a life of mutual fidelity signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and so it is worthy of being honored among all people.

This bold language evinces a category mistake of the worst sort, by equating the union of two people of the same gender to the holy union between Christ and His Church. (How can they be so equated? In the former, which of the two men -- or two women -- signifies Christ, and which the Church?). I have written elsewhere, explaining how the trial rites for same-sex marriages go on to blaspheme the Holy Trin- ity, as well as each of the three Persons separately, so that the sin is comprehensive and complete. Was no one on the drafting committee, or among the bishops, clergy and laity whoTherefore voted for I the tell rituals, you, every mindful sin and of Jesus’s blasphemy warning will bein forthe- twelfthgiven people, chapter but of the Matthew? blasphemy against the Spirit will not be I am aware of a significant possibility for misunderstand- forgiven. [32] And whoever speaks a word against the Son of ing here, and I am trying my utmost to be plain and clear. Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Regardless of how one chooses to read Scripture’s prohibi- Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to tions against sexual relations outside of holy matrimony, come. (Matthew 12:31-32 ESV) Scripture, as interpreted by one no less than Jesus Himself, is unequivocal in defining matrimony as between a man and a woman. It is just as unequivocal in declaring that God joins Regardless of the spiritual consequences of such blas- them together, man and woman, as one flesh. This is God’s phemy, it simply cannot be that a Communion of Christian prescription, not proscription, for marriage as a covenant churches will ignore, let alone accommodate, one of their blessed by Him through His church. member provinces as it systematically goes about promot- One can fail to agree with the proscription against sin- ing and uttering blasphemy in its rites and liturgies. ning, and engage in unrepentant same-sex behavior, that To be sure, churches bless animals, flags, tartans, and all is between God and the sinner. But man cannot alter God’s manner of objects, but those rites do not invoke any of the prescription for holy matrimony; any attempt to do so is a theology of matrimony. Nor do they try to alter an institu- nullity. Moreover, as noted, the attempt inevitably leads to tion which God established and defined. So they do not risk blasphemy. blaspheming the Trinity. Therefore, if ECUSA really wants to accept the conse- If I am simply wrong in my claim, then let those who are quences of what it has done, let’s have an open debate, cul- theologically more knowledgeable tell me where I err. For minating in a vote at GC 2018 either in favor of or against the present, the silence of the orthodox remaining in the blaspheming the Holy Trinity. That way the whole world will Episcopal Church (USA) in response to such blasphemy sim- know what that denomination is doing, and what it chooses ply baffles me. If Episcopalians really believe that by just ly- knowingly to bless. And the Communion in good conscience ing low for three years, the problem with their actions will can then make its separation from ECUSA -- as well as from go away, then I fear they truly are blind to how deep a wound any other member province that chooses the same path -- they have cut, with these rites, into the Body of Christ. permanent, as it will have no other choice. Even if the offending language were excised from the liturgies, I do not see theologically how the fundamental fallacy that underlies invoking the triune God’s blessing on same-sex unions in the Church could be overcome. For as the BCP says, the union between a man and a woman is mod- eled on the mystical union between Christ and His Church. A.S. Haley is a lawyer living in California and part of the Di- But same-sex unions cannot ever be said to model that rela- ocese of San Joaquin’s legal team. This article is republished tionship, without veering into the sin of blasphemy. Nor can with permission from his blog, The Anglican Curmudgeon. the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be asked to bless that which God has declared cannot be joined together. Forward in Christ, February, 2016 9 Make a Right Beginning of Lent Bishop Jack Iker on Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a new beginning – a new beginning in our relationship with the Living God as followers of Jesus Christ. Ash Wednesday is a new beginning, as it is the first day of Lent – sometimes called the “spring-time of the soul.” It is a solemn day of fasting and penitence, when every member of the Church is called to repent of his or her sins and turn again to God. To begin afresh with God, to make a right beginning of Lent, we must first repent of our sins. But remember that real repentance is not just feeling guilty for what we’ve done. It is not just feeling sorry for our sins – though that is certainly a good place to start. Repentance is more than feelings of regret or remorse. Repentance is a change of life, a re- laws. But if we are honest about it, faithfulness in worship every Sunday. orientation and a re-submission of our the truth is that we may not feel very It means a discipline of the tongue – to lives to God that is seen in our behavior. contrite at all. We suffer from hardness refrain from belittling and criticizing It is something we do, not something of heart and do not feel genuine others – from gossiping and spreading we feel. remorse for our sins. So for many of pessimism. It means to use our lips to To make a right beginning of Lent us we must start by may asking God build up and encourage and share our – to take advantage of this invitation to make us contrite – to create is us a faith with others – not to complain to begin anew – we must repent sense of regret for our alienation from and grumble. It means to show forth of our sins. In classical Christian Him - to wound our hearts for having God’s praise not only with our lips, but theology, there are three steps in true offended Him or others in various in our lives, by giving up our selves to repentance. ways. We have turned from God’s love His service, and by walking before Him First is a recognition of my sins. for us by clinging to self-indulgence, in holiness and righteousness, all the This requires self-examination. We hypocrisy, and pride. But now it is time days of our life. cannot confess our sins until we name to make a new beginning – a fresh start Let us make a right beginning of Lent them, first to ourselves and then to in our walk with the Lord. We must today. Let us make a new beginning God. What things have I done that I not stop with a burden of guilt for our in our walk with the Lord. As you ought not to have done, and what things great sinfulness. We must confess our are marked with ashes today on your have I left undone that I ought to have sins and then move on to the next step, forehead, remember that the ashes done? Where have I been resentful, which is to firmly resolve amendment represent our mortality: “remember envious, proud, selfish, and so on? of life – a change in behavior. that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt What Commandments have I broken? This third step in making this new return.” Remember that it is sin that Have I lied, cheated or gossiped? Take beginning is to promise we will try leads to death and eternal separation time today for self-examination. Look to do better, with the help and grace from God. But don’t stop there; take upon your heart – as God surely does – that God promises to give to repentant heart and be encouraged. For the ashes and recount those thoughts and actions sinners. To turn from our sins requires are imposed on you in the form of the that are contrary for His will for you. a change of heart and a change of cross, a sign of our redemption – our We have not loved God with our whole direction. It means cultivating the four eternal salvation - and perfect gift of heart and mind and strength. We have cardinal virtues (justice, prudence, God’s forgiveness through the blood not loved our neighbors as ourselves. courage, and moderation) and asking of Jesus. Ash Wednesday celebrates We have not forgiven others, as we God to nurture within us the nine our deliverance from sin and death - it have been forgiven. fruits of the Holy Spirit in our daily gives us a new beginning and a fresh Second is contrition. Here we lives (love, joy, peace, patience, start, in a new life - that is eternal. express sorrow for our sins and say to kindness, goodness, faithfulness, “Create and make in us new and God that we are truly sorry for what we gentleness and self-control – Galatians contrite hearts, that we, worthily have done and not done. We are sorry 5:22-23). It means a new commitment lamenting our sins and acknowledging that we have offended against His holy to Bible study and daily prayer – to our wretchedness, may obtain of you, 10 Forward in Christ, www.fifna.org the God of all mercy, perfect remissionBishop Jack andIker forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Lent And The Gospel of Suffering By Fr. Lawrence Bausch

Much of our yearning for If we have never sought, we seek Thee now; eternal life won for us by Je- Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars; sus’ resurrection is rooted in We must have sight of thorn-pricks on Thy brow, our desire to be healed of the We must have Thee, O Jesus of the Scars. hurts and pains of this life. Truly we are wounded people, The heavens frighten us; they are too calm; who have suffered, do suffer, In all the universe we have no place. and will suffer much in this Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm? life. Even during those sea- Lord Jesus, by Thy Scars, we claim Thy grace. sons in which we may be free of such, we are witnesses to If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near, the sufferings of others. Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine; Our hearts of compassion We know to-day what wounds are, have no fear, are struck every time we pay Show us Thy Scars, we know the countersign. attention to the news. In every Mass, we pray for God in these or similar words to “comfort and succor all those who, The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak; in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne; or any other adversity.” When we factor in the ravages of But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak, persecution, warfare, famine, poverty and natural disas- And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone. ters, the enormity of human suffering, the weight of such knowledge threatens to overwhelm our faith. As William Temple commented on this poem and its sig- It is perhaps at such times as this that we are best able to nificance for us: “Only a God in whose perfect Being pain has ponder the strange feature of the mark of our Lord’s Passion its place can win and hold our worship . . .” May we, who wor- in his Risen Body. We might have reasonably expected them ship the Risen Lord in the midst of suffering, be strength- to be gone forever as a part of His victory over sin and death, ened by his scars: “By his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah but they are not. What does their continual presence mean 53:5) for us and for our hope of perfect healing? We are not saved from suffering, we are saved through After the end of World War I, whichJesus had of been the Scars,the occa and- suffering, in the midst of suffering. And may this thought sionOther of Poems. suffering and death on an unprecedented scale, Ed- pervade our Lenten disciplines as well as our Easter hope ward Shillito published a book entitled this year. The title poem began the collection, and was Fr. Lawrence Bausch is President of FiFNA and Rector of Holy preceded by a passage from John 20:20, “He showed them Trinity, Ocean Beach, San Diego, California. His hands and His side.” In the poem, Shillito movingly addresses our question: The Ash Wednesday Collect

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Forward in Christ, February, 2016 11 Parish Highlight Christ The Redeemer, Washington State

Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church is a true “instant church” or, maybe, an “accidental” church. Rev. Dr. Mac Culver and Rev. Art Moore have known each other for over 35 years with both working together in their early ministry years during the 1980’s. Mac+ moved to the Tri Cities WA, where Art+ had been living for the past 20 years, after the unexpected death of his son in 2008. At that time, Mac+ took an assignment as a Christian School Administrator in order to be close to his son’s widow and his grandchildren. In March 2010 both decided to run an advertisement in the local newspaper to “explore” local interest in an Anglican church plant. Shortly, Art’s+ phone rang in response to the ad that was titled: “Discover, Again the Ancient Faith.” On the phone was a Roman Catholic nice place to worship. We also had a own John Wesley Anglican roots and priest, Fr. Jim O’Connor, asking: “Who delightful Roman Catholic priest, who we have learned to be very blessed are you?”, “What do you plan to do?” had been present in Rome at Vatican II, with their on-going hospitality. They “When do you plan to do it?” After a encouraging us! God had greater plans have never raised our rent. brief conversation Fr. O’Connor hung and more accelerated plans than we Fr. Mac and Fr. Art share local up and life went on. Within a day or had dreamed or hoped for. pastoral and preaching responsibilities two the phone rang again with Fr. Jim Against all church planting rules, 50/50 with each working in their O’Connor on the line stating: “I have against all methods ever suggested strength areas. Fr. Mac, is rector, and found a place for you to worship and to plant a church, we accepted a year leads this local ministry. Fr. Art is you can begin next week! Come on over lease and began services in a beautiful active in the Diocese of Cascadia being to West Highlands Methodist Church chapel set up perfectly, with split a member of the Bishop’s Diocesan (A Confessing Methodist Church) on chancel, for Anglo-Catholic services. Council and was recently appointed Thursday and you can talk to their This was 6 years ago. Dean of the East Cascades Deanery. pastor about fees.” God has added a very loyal group Both Mac+ and Art+ were in Holy panic! Are we really ready? Do of parishioners and all runs quite attendance at the International we really want to do this at our age? smoothly as we have followed this Congress of Catholic Anglicans in Fort We went ahead and met with Fr. unexpected path. As of 2016, we still Worth, Texas, and they look forward O’Connor and Rev. Ed Branham at have full use of this beautiful Methodist to being involved in future Forward the very attractive Methodist church facility. We meet at the same time in Faith North America events. They, facility. After good, polite Anglo- each Sunday morning sharing Sunday happily, have a strong Anglo-Catholic Catholic words and safe chat we asked: School, after-worship fellowship, and persuasionIesus, tanto and feel nomini most nullumcomfortable par “How much will the monthly rent be?” many other graciously extended offers withelogium! our Forward in Faith friends. Rev. Branham, after a short pause, said: as we journey “one in the bond of love” “We cannot charge you more than we together. charge Alcoholics Anonymous which is Over the past years, Mac+ and Art+ (Jesus, for so great a name, no praise $50 a month. Will that work?” have been called on a number of times is adequate!) More panic sets in. Are we really to fill the Methodist pulpit on Sundays ready? Do we really want to do this at when the Sr. Pastor is out of town. our age? Several times a year we find ourselves Christ the Redeemer worships on With a bit of unexpected fear we having joint services together with Sundays at 10 AM. Their website is: answered: “Yes, that will work.” God’s blessings being enjoyed by all. To www.tricityanglican.org. So, out of nowhere, God opened the our “Confessing” Methodist host, we windows of heaven and we had a very have become a living symbol of their 12 Forward in Christ, www.fifna.org Thinking Out Loud William Murchison on Lent

Well, we’re all Anglicans around or for that matter the standpoint of here, right? We know about repen- any political figure who wishes to re- tance. It’s in the prayer book: “We have place in office. The times are always erred and strayed from thy ways…” out of joint. Just when you finally get “We do earnestly repent, And are the man – I should add these days, or heartily sorry…” the woman – of your choice, some- Lent was made for Anglicans. We thing unexpectedly goes haywire. get to eat pancakes and, if we are of a Or maybe all is well for a while. Then mind to do it, show off our hard-earned it falls apart. ashes: the more valiantly if we man- Do we wonder? The human con- aged to inhabit the 7 a.m. service. We dition is the point that should com- get to give up the third glass of wine. mand our attention. Things always And so forth. go wrong when humans are in A point we might nevertheless wish charge for any length of time. Poor to notice is the growing relevance of Saul, poor David, poor Solomon – repentance in a society which, accord- exemplars in way or another of the ing to Pew Research Studies and such wish really to make things go right; like, is shedding religion the way an undone by frailty; wracked and ru- lar value. It is a religious occasion, yes. emergent butterfly sheds its chrysalis. ined by the human passions that never But it also an occasion for reflection – I The presidential campaign brings conceal themselves for long beneath will leave “prayerful” reflection to the this point to mind. monarchical cloak or presidential suit prayerfully minded citizen who looks We are in a campaign – nor have I coat. about in wonder at the human mess. the least intention of sorting out here The idea of remediation via politics And wonders what can be done about the particular qualifications of par- is among the least tenable ideas in the it. What can come of it all? Anything? ticular candidates – whose message is, marketplace. It is not that politicians The question, which the Church pos- if you haven’t been paying attention, lack any notion of things that need es regularly to the faithful, is equally salvation. The candidates are going to doing and of short-term, at least, ap- well directed to the whole of creation; save us. They say so – not in so many proaches to making it happen. There all the packed ranks of fallen men and words but with salvation as the sub- have been estimable presidents just as women hungering for redemption; per- text. They are going to save us because there were estimable kings of Israel. petually asking this or that “leader” to things are bad, requiring makeover. The idea, nonetheless, of enduring ref- do the heavy lifting; swelling with in- Banks and greedy hedge funds, not ormation – not to mention intelligent dignation when the fondest, seemingly to mention male chauvinists and rac- reformation – is an idea that crops up best-founded hopes come to naught. ists, oh, and energy companies -- such too much in politics for anyone’s good. It’s a great time for a revival, Lent are the bogles from whom the two (as In other words, honey, as a late lady of is; a time for the proclamation of this I write) surviving Democratic contend- my acquaintance used to say, if it’s not sublime season’s history and meaning. ers purpose to save us. one “dee” thing, it’s another. Even the presidential candidates know The far more numerous Republican It is – that unassailable idea pro- as much. They just don’t know that candidates propose saving us from the ceeding from the thoroughly unre- they know, that’s all. Democrats and from the legacy of the formed and unreformable nature we President, Barack Obama, whom one all inhabit. Small wonder the Psalmist candidate or another, from one party (Ps. 146) noted the futility of putting or the other, will be replacing in Janu- any trust in princes or other child of ary. man. Very well. Salvation. That’s the We always find, according to our promise. Things are wrong; the times well-developed skill at the task, some are out of joint, as young Hamlet way or another of messing up what has phrased it. This is an invitation to re- been carefully constructed, or turned flection, albeit not an invitation that inside-out, for our benefit. gets grasped often in the heat of the “Come the revolution…” the Reds political moment. used to say. Revolutions came, revolu- Reflection for any period of time tions went, and still the eternal human William Murchison is an author and will yield recognition that things al- problems – pride, envy, sloth; the com- journalist. He lives in Dallas, Texas. ways are wrong, from the standpoint plete catalogue – persisted. of any given presidential contender; Lent, I would like to argue, has secu- Forward in Christ, February, 2016 13 Fighting Temptation By Fr. Gene Geromel

In the martial arts there are many ways to block a punch. Some are gentle and some are not so gentle. For instance, there is a block used against a punch to the body. Your opponent’s wrist is trapped in the crook of your elbow then you pivot and with the forearm of the other arm you strike you opponent’s elbow. It is brutal. When students first see it, their eyes widen in shock. Even in practice, when no contact is actually made, the student can see that it would be an act of destruction, and is only to be used only when it is a matter of life and death. There are other blocks which are mere snaps of the wrist where you strike with the edge of your hand (called the knife edge). In this block, the strike is directed at a very specific spots near the wrist. For the average person the strike is so excruciating that it stops a follow up punch in its tracks. There is another block which is called the cup block. Hold your hand as if you were taking water from a spring. (Sadly, many of my younger students have no idea what drinking from a spring is like and thus have trouble cupping their hands.) Imagine a straight punch coming to your nose. Keeping your hand cupped, you gently move the fist coming at your nose. It doesn’t have to move far. There are only four or five inches to move it past your head and out of danger. It is gentle, effective and has an economy of motion. Last year, I observed an exorcism. It was done at a Roman Catholic parish not far from where I live. The priest who performed it was the official exorcist of their Archdiocese. When he realized what was happening, he left the house You might wonder why a priest would wait until he has been and walked through the forest back to his rectory. For a ordained more than forty years before observing such an long time, he was tormented by the image of the naked girl. activity? The answer is simple: such things scare the Hell He would look at the cross and see the naked girl. He would out of me. However, to my surprise, what struck me the read his lessons and see the girl. most was the gentleness of the exorcism. The priest sat at Other than going to confession, there is no indication his desk. There were three lay women seated in chairs. The in the play of how he dealt with these temptations. Many person we brought sat in the chair next to the desk. The years ago, I knew a priest who left the Altar in the middle priest gave the man a bottle of Holy Water and told him to of the consecration saying, “I am unworthy.” Sadly, he also drink some. He placed a little trash can lined with a plastic left the parish ministry and ended up living in what most of bag near the man’s feet (sometimes bile of various colors is us would call a sinful relationship. The Devil tempts us into coughed up when a demon is expelled) and then explained agreements with wrong attitudes by introducing thoughts the procedure. He made it clear that if something was like, “Everything goes wrong for me”; “I’m no good”; “I mentioned, such as “the spirit of murder”, it doesn’t mean deserve to be punished”; “I will punish myself to feel better.”; that he, the victim of demons, is being accused of murder. He “No one loves me. I’m all alone”; or “I am guilty of X sin and also told him that if anyone in the group rebuked a spirit, it therefore no good.” would not be meant as a rebuke to him. Again, I have no idea as to what spiritual methods Damien The priest then began to pray various traditional prayers. used to overcome these temptations. If he had totally given At times he would pause and sprinkle Holy Water on the man in to them he would have gone back to the girl, but he I had brought. There was a constant invocation of the Saints. continued to be a faithful priest, albeit a tormented one. If There would be quiet prayers asking the wicked Spirit (of a priest came to me and told me that his imagination was lust, anger, abuse,) to depart. The whole process was quiet, full of sinful visions as he said Mass, I would tell him about gentle and effective. the cup block. Merely push the Devil aside: Not to think the There is a one-man play about Fr. Damien of the Lepers. thought in the middle of mass that “I am unworthy” but Much of it deals with his difficulty with the government merely say, “sorry, Lord, forgive me, I was distracted for a authorities and his superiors. However, there is one scene minute, I’m back now.” If in the middle of the Divine Office, where he talks about visiting a native family. He spends a beguiling image appears, merely push it aside and say, the night with them. In the middle of the night, the teenage for example, “I look forward to the day when I perform her daughter crawled into his makeshift bed. She was naked. marriage to a good Christian man. Now, back to the office.” 14 Forward in Christ, www.fifna.org Never react with violence or guilt. Never walk away from girl begin “going too far” when they are alone, then a simple the Altar. Return to Jesus in his Sacrament. solution is to go on double dates. To put it simply, avoid Sometimes my ju-jitsu students ask how to avoid those occasions that encourage us to sin. getting hit. I tell them not to be in a place where people If Father Damien went back to that family every week and throw punches. Then they say, “Well I have to take my girl stayed the night, what do you think would have happened? someplace,” which, of course, is where the trouble begins. All he had to do was visit them for lunch, never be alone with Does one really have to go to a bar to have a good time? For the girl and go home before dark. some, that seems to be the case. I suggest that when someone The devil may be wily, but he is not invincible. When he calls them out that they say they will meet the fellow out attacks you, brush him aside gently and go back to Jesus. front in five minutes. I then tell them to go out the back door When temptation attracts and attacks, you can remember in three minutes. the cup block and let gentleness be your cloak. Think about it, most of us end up sinning, because we end up in places where we are tempted. If you are a glutton .you avoid bakeries. If your drinking is out of control, avoid Fr. Gene Geromel is Rector of St. Bartholomew’s Anglican bars and spend time with non-drinkers. If you watch porn Church, Swartz Creek, Michigan. on the computer, buy a large screen and put the computer where others can see what you are watching. If a boy and a C4SO, Missional And Misguided Fr. Richmond on Genuine Mission

It is strange how the Bible challenges our pet-programs. apostles to him for three specific purposes. These consti- We all have them. Sometimes they are hidden, and known tute, line upon line, a process by which Christians are called only to God. At other times we are aware of them and we to engage the world: make every effort to align our intentions with God’s will. In To be with [Christ], short, once we discover the error of our ways, we repent, To be sent out believe and behave. By God’s grace we turn things around. To have authority. There are times, however, when our pet-programs are placed on parade before others. That the program is simply a When we do not embrace this relational priority and pro- “parade,” pretty but passing, might make us think that some cess, which includes pronounced and persistent prayer, we measure of charitable latitude is allowed. If it is “pretty but are left only with are structures and programs. passing” we think it is easily dispensed with. Although my wife faithfully watches the Rose Bowl parade, it does not in any way influence how she governs her life. Sadly, the “pa- rade” of Churches For The Sake of Others (C4SO, a diocese in the Anglican Church in North America) does govern the lives of many Christians and, in consequence, sets a standard and agenda that is unbiblical. This article’s intention, as my title suggests, is to rain on the parade of missional misconcep- tions by exposing the faulty foundation and, instead, to float an alternate reality more in keeping with biblical revelation. Anglicanism is an historic church that rightly celebrates a rich patrimony. Unless we have begun to embrace creativ- ity above continuity (as it appears some have already done), the process of change is as moderate and as measured as Cranmer’s careful reforms. However, by embracing C4SO orientations, programming and expansion are far more evident than Paraclete and prayer. Multiplying churches – a questionable notion at best – is far more prominent than making disciples. Over the past decade we have not kept up our guard. While focusing upon maintaining essential or- thodoxy, and this we must do, we have welcomed the Trojan Horse of C4SO orientations into our midst. We must fight this focus or fail in our God-ordained call- ing. St. Mark’s gospel provides a much-needed correction. When we read St. Mark 3: 13–15 we discover an oft-repeated outline to which we must all be attentive. Jesus called his Forward in Christ, February, 2016 15 erist orientation that true Christianity entirely rejects. We never begin with “what will attract,” but, far more im- portantly, “how do we celebrate God with, in and among us?” God is our be- ginning. God’s will is paramount. His will, works and ways are in focus. This isall our beginning. This is our middle. This is our end. To truly worship – in that this means – will be dynami- cally attractive, but to begin with “for others” is in fact to build Babel and to construct “strange fire.” Finally, in this regard, C4SO’s em- phasis upon evangelism (although proper evangelism is essential) sug- gests that the human person “does” before the human person “is.” “For oth- ers” implies that my essential identity is entirely dependent upon purpose Calling and not upon person. Jesus was identi- fied as God, then, after his wilderness process of spiritual formation, dis- training, he began to preach. And, later The Christian has many callings. courages the priority of well-ordered still, he chose his disciples and his di- Among these, although not limited to worship and entirely distorts a biblical rection. The same was true for the dis- them, is the call to holiness, the call understanding of the human person. ciples. The same is true for us. Mary to evangelism, the call to love, the call Jesus’ first calling, after repentance before Martha! Sitting before sharing! to give, the call to carry our cross and and belief, is to be with him. We see Worship before working! Being before the call to die to self. Each of these this in the life of Jesus Christ himself. doing! C4SO, by its very name, neglects callings is important and must not be After being acknowledged by the Fa- and negates these priorities. Being Sent Out minimized or neglected. If we are not ther during his baptism, Jesus is led interested in holiness or evangelism and/or driven into the wildernessif you are to be (which are, of course, vitally connect- tempted regarding his identity. The re- ed) we are likely not Christians. This peated refrain of Satan is “ the These priorities do not diminish is critical, and must be clearly under- Son of God” [my emphasis]. Jesus came our calling to “go” and to “make” and stood. Evangelism is the supernatural to himself, properly understood, in the to “baptize” and to “teach.” Rather, and extension of having life in Christ. Such desert. He had to be alone with himself, importantly, they prioritize the Source callings are planted within the regen- being secure in his identity, before his from which they emerge and engage. erate heart. Christians want to be holy witness to the world. Person is before Jesus sent out his disciples. The calling and Christians want to evangelize. No proclamation. C4SO functionally for- to be with Jesus led to being sent by Je- one needs to tell true Christians these gets or fudges this. sus. The priority of “being with” led to things. They are, in fact, planted within As well, and again contrary to Christ, the purpose of “going forth.” And this our hearts upon rebirth. Although “be C4SO neglects (by its very name) the “going” was with specific instructions ye holy” and “go into all the world” are priority of spiritual formation. When that led to effectiveness. spoken as imperatives, they do in fact Jesus called his apostles he did not im- The “closet” prepares us for such a reflect the innate desire of the faith- mediately send them out. They were commissioning. This is, by priority and ful. Holiness and evangelism are our nurtured. They were formed. They practice, “being with” Jesus. Too many heart’s desire. Strategies may help, but were called. They began to follow and pastors want to preach, but have no the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as in- be instructed. And then, after these equivalent interest in prayer. Prepara- formed by Holy Scripture does help. things, they were sent out. Evangelism tion involves the brain, and the brain Being With Jesus must always begin by being with Je- is important, but the brain is not suf- sus. To go out before we are built up is ficiently activated until the knees are to court shipwreck. If church really is engaged. The knees must be as mus- From the outset, C4SO begins where “for the sake of others,” and not just an cular as the mind. In short, in keeping we should end. It is as misinformed unfortunate misuse of words, it under- with our theme, we are anxious to “go and misguided as catechetical instruc- mines spiritual formation. out” without spending equal or more tion is that begins with evangelization. The same is true with worship. The time “going within.” We want publicity, It puts the proverbial “cart before the priority, purpose and process of wor- but we fail to understand that proper horse.” Strictly understood and ap- ship is crucial to the church. If we be- publicity can only be safely embarked plied, C4SO dismisses our Lord’s words gin worship with “for others” we end upon from the willingness to remain about being with him, disregards the up with little more than the consum- prayerfully anonymous. Pastors with 16 Forward in Christ, www.fifna.org little prayer, without pronounced and persistent prayer, are not worthy of pulpits. Closets prepare us for, and sus- tain us within, the commissioning. The Great Commission is only as great as our commitment to prayer! C4SO, for all that it might assert, or individual adherents embrace, does not highlight this important priority. To be sent out is to embark upon the inward journey where encounter with Christ is hard- won through private wrestling and private wounding. Blood on the knees provides boldness in the pulpit. We cannot “go out” effectively until we have “been with” sufficiently. Some time ago I heard about some (I am sure) well-intentioned folk who de- cided to start a church-plant in a very upscale part of our country. It failed within a year. Certainly there was good intention. Certainly there was strategy. But, with both of these, it did not suc- Where do we find this in Scripture? In But do we actually believe that suc- ceed. I do not know why their efforts fact we do not. We have far too many cess is obedience? I think not. C4SO did not bear any obvious fruit. Being fashionable priests and purple-panting suggests otherwise. If we really did quite familiar with the area I am well- prelates. Too much glitter and too little evaluate success based upon obedi- aware of the hard-tack soil that needed guts!Being Given Authority ence, why so much emphasis upon at- to be worked. However, while success traction, numbers, and “for others”? cannot be evaluated upon the basis of Why, in fact, are dioceses evaluated numbers or outcome, my inclination Being with God gives us authority. upon the basis of “churches” and “fi- is to think that C4SO orientations im- God’s calling gives us authority. God’s nances”? Why is numeric visibility posed action before prayerful reflec- sending leads to God’s authority. Just equated with spiritual viability? Why tion. If 1000 new churches is the goal, because we are intentional about the is vitality articulated numerically? which it has been stated by ACNA to be, Great Commission does not mean we There are many obedient and effective then we better set upon our task or we are inspired or empowered. God must servants who have no church and gen- will fail to accomplish this noble pur- call and God must commission. These, erate little income but who are having pose. But, of course, Jesus never said by God’s grace, are what we need. Au- tremendous impact for God. Numbers nor implied an evangelism-by-numbers thority resides within the Sender and tell us little. approach. Hopefully I am wrong. Hope- in being obedient to the sending we Although it could be argued that I fully these people were faithful, and yet have received. This is “success.” know very little about C4SO orienta- they failed. Certainly this is far better Let me again restate the empower- tions, I would encourage a response based upon both the words and the ac- than doing nothing at all. But, if not this ment process as found in St. Mark 3: failure, other failures can be rooted to tions that C4SO adherents use and em- C4SO dysfunctionality. brace. While I certainly am not a C4SO Being called Let me explain at bit more. Church adherent, I do want our churches to Being with planting that begins with the priority of move forward and grow -- but accord- Being sent numbers is wrong from the beginning. ing to biblically revealed priorities, Anglican 1000, or whatever numeric Being empowered. patterns and processes. Be “Missional,” equivalent nonsense, uses business by all means, but follow the Great Com- language in order to accomplish busi- To confuse these is to confound mission devoid of all the tedious trendi- ness purposes. Or, if we want to be far God’s priority and process. ness that C4SO suggests. more charitable, it uses business prin- When asked about the nature of ciples in order to accomplish kingdom success I have always said – and I think priorities. As well, church planting that without exception – that success is en- begins with a theology of attraction is tirely dependent upon obedience. John also (at best) suspect. With such a pri- the Baptist was successful although, The Very Rev. Dr. Donald P. Richmond, a ority we end up with pretty pastors by strict human standards, he may widely published author and monastic il- with pretty parishioners who reach not have had the head-count by which lustrator, is an Anglican clergyman serv- out to pretty people in order to enjoy many assess success. The same might ing with the Church of the Nazarene. a comfortable middle-class church. It be said of our Lord Jesus Christ. The is Orange County Theology to the core. same must be said of us. Forward in Christ, February, 2016 17 Will The Real Gabriel Please Stand Up? By Fr. John Jordan

“Every time a bell rings, an Angel gets his wings.” So lit- tle Zuzu tells her daddy in the much loved Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” We think of Clarence, an Angel (2nd class), earning his wings and, right along with Jimmy Stew- art, we smile from ear to ear. Angels are wonderful. Just a few months ago they came off of the tops of our Christmas trees. They stood near the Christ-Child in our nativity scenes. We pondered them sing- ing “glory to God in the highest” out in the fields near Beth- lehem. Back around Epiphany, we were packing away the Christmas decorations (yes, a little bit late) and I was sliding the angel Gabriel back into his styrofoam home for another 11 months, when a long-standing reality hit me: the angel Gabriel is a trouble maker. At the root of two very different faith traditions, Christi- anity and Islam, stands an announcement made by Gabriel. For the Christian, Gabriel’s conversation with the Blessed Virgin Mary is really the pivotal moment in history. There, in the womb of Our Lady, God becomes a man. And for the Mus- lim, Gabriel’s conversation with the Prophet Muhammed in the Cave of Hira is truly the pivotal moment of history. There both the Old and New Testaments. For instance, Jesus does in the cave, according to Islamic tradition, Gabriel revealed appear in the Quran in several places but in the Quran’s ver- the first verses of the Quran to Muhammed. sion, He is not divine and was not crucified. There is a story Two different conversations. Two very different versions in the Quran of Jesus as an infant, in his cradle, speaking in of the Angelic message. Two completely different trajecto- complete sentences to defend his mother from accusations ries. One Angel. of fornication. The result of this “revelation” is that confu- My hand shaking a bit, the tape gun secured the styro- sion reigns for many in their search for God. foam box and the climb to the attic began. I couldn’t shake This confusion is at the heart of the “Islamophobia” de- the idea. How could such a beloved figure, God’s messenger bate that rages in our own day. Of course everyone has an to Daniel, to Zechariah, and of course to Mary, be thought opinion on Donald Trump wanting to temporarily ban Mus- of as the key source of Islam? Wouldn’t that be a bit like the lims from entering the United States. Debates rage on every Soviets inventing a tale about George Washington to give “news” program. I made the mistake a few months ago of rise to their claims? The more I considered it, the more it watching Bill Maher’s program one night and it was a re- bothered me. markable sight to see Ben Affleck laughably try to defend One conversation leads to the birth of the Prince of Peace. Muslim countries, despite being presented with the facts The light shines in the darkness due to this child that Gabriel about their records on human rights. Several months ago in came to announce. Jesus “came and preached peace to those my own city of Southlake, Texas, I had a gentleman make an who are far off and those who are near.” (Eph. 2:17) He came appointment with me to tell me that Muslims were taking to bring “good tidings to the poor, liberty to the captives” over the City of Southlake Municipal Government and enact- (Luke 4:18) and to bring God’s goodness and love to a world ing Sharia Law. Confusion reigns. that desperately needed it. The result of Gabriel’s conversa- And then there’s ISIS and their mission of death, which is tion with Our Lady is the person of Jesus Christ, whose life closely tied to this confusion. To understand ISIS, we have and teaching have been such a tremendous source of good to understand that the reason they are fighting is because in our world. they view themselves as center stage in the events of the In the other conversation, the one with Muhammed, Ga- apocalypse. In their view of the end times, which are com- briel begins a conversation with him, and him only. What ing shortly, they will rise in power for a period of time, take follows over the next twenty-three years (A.D. 609-632) significant tracks of land, including most of the Middle East, is an alleged series of private revelations from God to his and then be forced to retreat to Jerusalem, where right at greatest prophet Muhammed. These revelations, recorded their moment of defeat it will be Jesus who will come back to in the Quran, become the basis for Islam and supersede the save them and help them win the battle. Yes, you read that Bible, which Muslims believe to be corrupted. You see, Mus- right. In a very strange way, ISIS is expressing faith that Je- lims hold that if the Quran tells a biblical story, something sus Christ will come again on that last great day. They just that had already been revealed by God, in a way that is in believe he will be a fighter for ISIS. Confusion reigns. conflict with the actual biblical story, then it is the Quran While some mainstream Muslims would certainly reject that is correct, not the original narrative. This is true for this view of the end times, the view itself is on a trajectory 18 Forward in Christ, www.fifna.org that can be traced back to that first conversation between Is this particular doctrine in line with something inspired Gabriel and Muhammed. All of it is part and parcel with the by God in the past?” Islamic approach to Special Revelation. Muslims and Chris- For the Muslim, however, this is not at all a necessary tians both believe that knowledge of God has been super- or even desired view of Special Revelation. God revealed naturally given to humanity. God intervened in the normal himself not to many, but to Muhammed alone, who tells the course of events and disclosed something of His will or His story of how God interacted with all of the others. Yes, in relationship with humanity to chosen people. Christians the Islamic tradition there are other prophets, but only in believe the full revelation to be the person of Jesus Christ, as much as Muhammed thinks they were prophets. There God the Son. We believe that Jesus did not come to abolish are even other revelations, such as the Torah, but only in as the law and the prophets but to fulfill them. A key belief for much as Muhammed wants to reveal them. Certainly, God Christians is that Jesus is the perfection of all that comes interacts with His people but Muhammed offers the only key before Him. Jesus doesn’t show up and start changing the to unlock those interactions. stories of the Old Testament. He quotes Scripture and He Islam and Christianity are obviously very different, with quotes it faithfully. very different doctrines and very different versions of the However, Muhammed does not offer the same approach. story of God interacting with man. However, it is the foun- Where Christ stands in the Judaic tradition, Muhammed dations of these faiths themselves that provide the most in- stands against it. At the end of the day, the Muslim must teresting and troublesome juxtaposition to me. Christianity conclude that the Bible just got these stories wrong. In the claims as its foundation that God reveals Himself to many in Quran, there are 50 different people that also appear in Holy a unified way; that God then incarnates and fulfills that rev- Scripture and while not all of these people do drastically elation. Islam’s foundation is God revealing Himself to one different things in the Quran’s narratives, many of them man and that revelation superseding, and even contradict- do. Islam doesn’t attempt to add to Judaism or Christianity, ing in several instances, everything else. it attempts to change the Judeo-Christian tradition by re- Right from this starting point, from the very beginning, writing some of the most important details of the story. No the foundations are in dissonance and that leads the un- wonder confusion reigns. The same characters are present churched person who searches for God to much confusion. but they are doing different things. When they should zig, As Islam gains a stronger footing in the West and our secular they zag. While Gabriel’s greatest mission is supposed to be culture continues headlong into its post-Christian era, there announcing the birth of Christ, instead it is when he’s in a will be many who will be perplexed upon examining this cave instructing Muhammed. evidence. After all, the same angel is cited as a key authority Ultimately, the two religions offer very different ap- in both religions. As Christians seeking to fulfill the Great proaches to Special Revelation. Christians see a trajectory Commission, we need to offer clarity about the very founda- of God revealing himself to many throughout Scripture. We tions of these religions themselves. Without that, many will see the Bible as a unified revelation, a whole, with a Father be led astray at worst, or confused at best. It would be a sad who makes promises in the Old Testament and then keeps thing to lay all of this confusion at the feet of the poor angel them in the New Testament. Even beyondAn the Essay pages on ofthe Holy de- Gabriel but it does all go back to those turning point con- Scripturevelopment Christians of Christian take Doctrine this approach. John Henry New- versations with him. Gabriel is a much loved figure in both man observed this in his seminal work, religions and yet he is caught in a tug of war. Standing at cen- . He wrote that one of the ter stage of two religion’s vital moments, one has to choose very key pieces of information the Christian should look for which Gabriel they trust. Will the real Angel Gabriel please in determining whether a particular doctrine of Christian- standFr. John up? Jordan is Rector of St. Laurence, Grapevine, in the Dio- ity is true, is whether or not it evolves, according to reason, cese of Fort Worth. from something that God has spoken or taught before. In Newsother words, the believerFrom asks, “Is Downthere a natural evolution? Under Br. Ned Gerber Reports From Australasia Refugees:

The topic of political refugees - versus original countries or to a “economic migrants” - continues to be a big issue in the third (neutral) nation. At USA presidential debates, and in the European Union. the same time, AUS has Australia’s policy of “turning back” illegal boats has been continued to receive a fairly much discussed. Before this occurred, many made the high intake of legal refugees, dangerous journey to Australia (AUS) illegally on the open often via UN protocols. sea, often in old vessels. Approximately 2,000 are known to These persons are settled have tragically drowned, probably including many women/ in Australia, given benefits, children. The AUS Government stopped this by publicly and helped towards eventual citizenship. Though this topic saying that those who come illegally will be re-settled in is not historically a focus of the FiF Movement, we believe offshore camps, and eventually returned to either their it is good to “discern the times” (as Jesus commanded) and Forward in Christ, February, 2016 19 comment from a Biblical perspective. FiF with its efforts. (Primate Freier is careful to note that he We believe the Old Testament policy of “cities of refuge” holds a different view at present on women’s ministry than (Num. 35:9ff.) could be helpful. Persons could flee to these the international FiF Movement. However, he has invited places for sanctuary if, for example, they had committed open and sincere discussion of this, and welcomes the unintentional manslaughter. The cities of refuge would then witnessMembership of the FiF DatabaseMovement in the wider Anglican Church.) - at least temporarily - open their gates until each case could be properly heard. But criminals who wrongly fled there : Phillip Maas, the President were not allowed to permanently settle. Once a refugee of FiF Australia - a Liturgist/Musician who trained at the is properly admitted, Biblical teaching is clear. We must Sydney Conservatory - continues to develop the database love and care for the “alien in our midst” (Deut. 10:18-19). here. In the modern era, such electronic back-up has However, we should also be prudent in whom we admit in become vital to member support, mailings and fund-raising the2016 first place. FiF Australasia Annual Conference: efforts. By God’s grace, the FiF Movement in Australia, New Zealand and areas beyond will have a core of close The to 500 people including Members (pay dues), Supporters keynote speaker this year will be Primate Anis of Egypt, (haven’t yet paid dues, but come to programs and register North Africa and the Middle East. He will be welcomed or give offerings), and Other. (“Other” in the local database to the Sydney Cathedral, and will address two topics: (1) includes future contacts, persons who have transferred to The challenge to Christianity of radical Islam (since ISIS other Communions, etc.) The process of receiving 2016 dues is very active in Anis’ Province); and also, (2) The proper is also beginning now. Thanks be to God, records from 2015 role of Primates in the Anglican Church and the Conciliar show that the database has been exceptionally helpful in Movement, with special reference to the Primates Meeting staying in touch with many friends and associates. During in England. A Dinka African member of Forward in Faith 2015, between 40-50% of all persons so contacted, who Australasia’s Executive Council will also present a case paid dues, also made an extra contribution for this ministry, study on what is happening to the Church in South Sudan, usuallyFuture without Programs: prompting. with the lessons provided on the need for deep discipleship that transcends tribal boundaries. Br. Ned Gerber will give God willing, FiF Australasia plans the homily at Holy Communion, focusing on the exegesis of two future parish programs in Austalia and/or New Zealand Acts 15 as the first, so-called “Proto-Council” in the Body – and possibly East Africa. One will address the “Genius of of Christ. This will now be the third Primate who has been Genesis” – and focus on how we can be sure the first book in featured in Australasia, with other Bishops and Archbishops the canon is divinely inspired. (After all, it includes critical also coming to Annual Conferences from S. E. Asia, Africa, texts on sin, salvation, the proper foundation for marriage, EnglandCooperation and North with America. the AUS Primate: etc.) The other will address “Rule of Life” – and focus on how we can encourage believers, especially those in weak FiF Australasia or heterodox settings, to maintain a vibrant spiritual life. It is pleased to again be working in cooperation with the will draw from the Rule of St. Benedict, Biblical admonitions Most Rev. Freier, Primate of Australia and Archbishop of on prayer, study, the sacraments and ministry to the poor, Melbourne. Primate Freier will be hosting Archbishop Anis and various Tertiary Programs such as that of the Third later this year in his own home, and will welcome him to OrderBr. Ned of Kerber the Franciscans.is Prior of the Anglican Benedictines of Christ Melbourne’s Cathedral, where he will present the second the King and VP FiF Australasia. day of the FiF Annual Conference Program. This is now the Whatfourth program whereis PrimateAnglo-Catholicism? Freier has helpfully assisted Two priests comment on Anglo-Catholic Identity Fr. Will Brown At first glance, Anglo-Ca- The second half of “Anglo-Catholicsm” – “Catholicism” – tholicism would appear to be is usually said to connote “universality,” and derives from a contradiction in terms. The the Greek prefix “kata,” meaning roughly “in accord with” first half of the construction, “Anglo,” (from which we get or “with respect to,” and “holos,” meaning “the whole.” the more familiar word “English”) refers to the cultural-lin- Hence the term “Anglo-Catholicism” would appear to con- guistic patrimony of one tribe of the gentiles who migrated note at once something relating to a very particular cultur- to Britain from their previous home near the Elbe river, al space, and something universal, something by definition around what is today the border between Germany and transcending any cultural particularity. Denmark, filling the vacuum left by the Roman withdrawal The trouble in determining what Anglo-Catholicism is, from Britain, as the Roman Empire shrank into itself in the though, extends well beyond that posed by philological con- 5th Century, thus inaugurating the European “dark ages” siderations such as the above. In a world like ours that dis- or “medieval” period, and eventually forming what would criminates powerfully in favor of individual autonomy, one come to be called “Angle-land” or England. is hard-pressed to regard any particular definition of any- 20 Forward in Christ, www.fifna.org thing over another, and hence we are presented with almost as many understandings of what “Anglo-Catholicism” means as there are Anglo-Catholics. And here, by the way, we can see a fault line running between the competing claims of the liberal political order on the one hand, and of the Gospel on the other hand. Both purport to be all-encompassing, “cath- olic,” if you will, arbiters of individual conscience. Be that as it may, a broad and therefore minimally con- troversial, working definition of Anglo-Catholicism might be something like: that tradition, generally found within Eng- lish Christianity and its colonial offshoots, that prizes the theological and devotional heritage of the Catholic Church. Conspicuous features of the Anglo-Catholic tradition are more easily discernible when they stand in contrast to other traditions of English Christianity. Hence one might note hall- marks like the use of incense during the liturgy, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints, prayers for the dead, and the use of devotional aids common among Christians worldwide, but more rare in traditions emanating from the Reformation: the rosary, holy water, candles, sacred images and statues and the like. Anglo-Catholics tend also to hold in high regard those traditions of the universal Church which have been maintained by Anglicans more broadly: the litur- gy of the Eucharist, the divine office, the authority of sacred scripture, and the offices of the priesthood and episcopacy (as well as the diaconate). We should notice and name the fact that all of the fore- women) and sexuality (same-sex marriage). Despite the An- going hallmarks of Anglo-Catholicism are entailed by an glo-Catholic position’s having been vindicated with respect anterior, tacit commitment to a “high” view of the Church to the ritual controversies of yesteryear, the diminished and as a mediator of God’s grace, an affirmation of the Lord’s beleaguered status of Anglo-Catholics within Anglicanism words to St. Peter: “…I will build my church, and the pow- today bears witness to our Lord’s words: “Sufficient for the ers of death shall not prevail against it,” (Matthew 16.18). day is its own trouble,” (Matthew 6.34). In this affirmation we may discern one of the most funda- Many books have been written about other facets of An- mental truths of catholic Christianity: that God came to glo-Catholicism. Over the past two centuries it has emerged earth in the person of Jesus Christ, and that he established as a faction in its own right within Anglicanism – initially a (single) Church; and that, in the words of the old marriage comprised of the disciples of its first expositors in the Ox- rite, he worshipped her (!) with his body on the cross, and ford Movement, men like John Keble, John Henry Newman, endowed her with all that he rightfully has and all that he by E.B. Pusey, Charles Lowder, and Arthur Tooth, among many nature is – and he is “the way, the truth, and the life,” (John others. And it has divided further into sub-factions – Prayer 14.6). Hence Anglo-Catholics discern in the economy of the Book Catholics, Anglo-Papalists, Dearmerites, Tridentines Church – in her liturgy, her prayers, her teaching – the way, and, lately, liberal-minded “Affirming” Catholics, and Tra- the truth, and the life. ditionalists. Noteworthy also are those who have left An- Many Anglo-Catholics also appreciate the reserve with glicanism altogether, looking to the rock from which they which Anglicanism has spoken of itself in its official for- were hewn and the quarry from which they were digged (cf. mularies. The Constitution of the General Convention of Isaiah 51.1), and returned to full, visible communion with the Episcopal Church, for example, speaks of the Episcopal the See of Peter, forming the “Anglican Ordinariates” of the Church not as “the Church,” but as a “member of… a fellow- Roman Catholic Church. ship within the… Church.” Such commendable reserve rela- There is an obvious irony in the division of Christians into tivizes and contextualizes our allegiances. In the words of factions, and factions of factions, and factions of factions the older version of the Nicene Creed, “I believe one, holy, of factions – all ostensibly in the quest for a more integral catholic, and apostolic Church.” I may or may not believe unity. It is some small consolation to notice that such ten- some smaller aggregation within the one Church. And when sions between locality and universality appear to run down some smaller aggregation appears to be at odds with what to the roots of the Church. St. Paul, for example, speaks in the one Church teaches around the world and across time, the opening verses of both of his letters to the Corinthians, the allegiances of Anglo-Catholics tend to be with the one of “the [one] church of God” which, notwithstanding its uni- Church. In previous generations such divided loyalties were versality, “is at Corinth.” Just so, even though the one Church manifest around questions of Eucharistic theology, or the is the “pillar and bulwark of the truth,” (1 Tim. 3.15), the Son appropriateness of various vestments, or whether candles of Man castigates various aggregations within it for various could or should be placed on the altar. Not surprisingly, to- teachings and practices that are at variance with the whole day’s loyalties tend to be divided over today’s controversies, (“catholic”) truth (see Revelation 2). for example around questions of gender (the ordination of To my mind there are two primary charisms that Anglo- Forward in Christ, February, 2016 21 Catholics might offer the broader body 6.20). The second charism exemplified on the vanguard of all of these things of Christians. The first is a careful so- by Anglo-Catholicism at its best is a down through the years – but insofar licitude for tradition, for the teaching recognition of the primacy of worship as we are the congregation of the faith- and the devotional practices we have in the life of the Church. The worship ful, our primary “bounden duty and received from our forbears in the faith of God has always had pride of place in service” is the worship of God in the down through the centuries. Anglo- the life of God’s people, stretching right person of Jesus Christ. Catholics have a reputation for punc- back to Genesis. And Anglo-Catholics, tiliousness and conservatism, but at again at their best, have a strong intu- its best this is just an eagerness to be ition of this being so. The Church may Fr. Will Brown is Rector of Holy Cross, careful custodians of what we have be about many things – helping the in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. This received, a recognition that the faith poor, mission and evangelism, Bible article appears online at the diocesan does not belong to us but that we have study, prophetic action, community website. been tasked with guarding what has building, and the like – and it should be been entrusted to us (cf. 1 Timothy noted that Anglo-Catholics have been

Fr. John Alexander

Since our position is often described as “high-church,” we can summarize some of the essentials of Anglo-Cath- olic spirituality in the following nine “high” views:

1. A High View of God. Anglo-Catho- lic worship at its best cultivates a sense of reverence, awe, and mystery in the presence of the Holy One before whom even the angels in heaven veil their faces.

2. A High View of Creation. At the same time, we delight in the beauty of God’s creation. The Anglo-Catholic view of the world is highly sacramen- tal, seeing signs of God’s presence and goodness everywhere in the things Jesus Christ...” that he has made. In worship, we gather up the best of creation—as reflected in universal Church neither as an insti- art, craftsmanship, music, song, flow- tution of merely human origin, nor as ers, incense, etc.—and offer it all back 4. A High View of the Atonement. An a voluntary association of individual up to God. authentic Anglo-Catholicism looks not believers, but as a wonderful mystery, only to Christ’s Incarnation but also a divine society, a supernatural organ- 3. A High View of the Incarnation. to his Sacrifice. The image of Jesus on ism, whose life flows to its members Our salvation began when Christ took the cross reminds us of the depth and from its head, Jesus Christ, in the pow- flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary. horror of human sin, and of the price er of the Holy Spirit. God became man in order to transform that God has paid for our redemption. human existence through participa- Anglo-Catholic spirituality entails a 6. A High View of the Communion of tion in his divine life. The Collect for lifelong process of turning from sin Saints. The Church, moreover, consists the Second Sunday after Christmas ex- and towards God. Many Anglo-Catho- not only of all Christians now alive on presses the Anglo-Catholic vision per- lics find the Sacrament of Penance an earth (the Church Militant), but also of fectly:“O God, who wonderfully created, and indispensable aid in this process. the Faithful Departed, who continue yet more wonderfully restored, the dig- to grow in the knowledge and love of nity of human nature: grant that we may 5. A High View of the Church. We God (the Church Expectant), and of the share the divine life of him who humbled come to share in the divine life of the Saints in Heaven, who have reached himself to share our humanity, your Son risen and ascended Christ by being in- their journey’s end (the Church Tri- corporated through Baptism into his umphant). We have fellowship with all Body, the Church. Thus, we regard the who live in Christ. Anglo-Catholicism 22 Forward in Christ, www.fifna.org thus affirms the legitimacy of praying for the dead, and of our faithful stewardship of this divine gift. For this reason, asking the Saints in Heaven for their prayers. innovations threatening the authenticity of our apostolic or- ders must be resisted at all costs. 7. A High View of the Sacraments. We believe that Jesus Christ really and truly communicates his life, presence, and 9. A High View of Anglicanism. We affirm that the Angli- grace to us in the Seven Sacraments, thus enabling us to give can Churches are truly part of Christ’s Holy Catholic Church. our lives to God and our neighbor in faith, hope, and love. The prophetic vocation of Anglo-Catholicism has been to Holy Baptism establishes our identity once for all as children bear witness to the catholicity of Anglicanism. Yet it can be of God and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven (although we can an uncomfortable vocation that requires us to take unpopu- by our own free choice repudiate this inheritance). And in lar stands against developments that threaten this catholic- the Holy Eucharist, Christ becomes objectively present in ity. Since the days of the Oxford Movement, our standard has the Blessed Sacrament of His Body and Blood. Eucharistic been the faith and practice of the ancient, undivided Church. adoration is thus an integral component of Anglo-Catholic Our vocation as Anglo-Catholics remains one of holding spirituality and devotion. ourselves, and our Anglican institutions, accountable to the higher authority of the universal Church. 8. A High View of Holy Orders. Since the days of the Ox- ford Movement, Anglo-Catholicism has borne witness that Fr. John Alexander is Rector of St. Stephen’s, Providence, Rhode the threefold ministry of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons in Island, in the Episcopal Church. This article can be found online Apostolic Succession is God-given. The validity of our sac- at Project Canterbury. raments, and the fullness of our participation in the life of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, depend upon

Forward in Christ, February, 2016 23 Forward in Faith North America P.O. Box 210248 Bedford, TX 76095-7248